Human brain has map for perceiving numbers just like 'sixth sense'

Washington, Sept 08 (ANI): A new research has revealed that the human brain has a "map" for perceiving numbers, large and small, just like the sixth sense.

While it a well known fact that human brain has topographical maps for the primary senses, such as sight, hearing and touch, for the first time a map for numerosity, or number sense has been discovered, according to Live Science.

Studies conducted in monkeys found that certain neurons in the parietal cortex became active when the animals viewed a specific number of items, but they did not find a map for numerosity.

Andreas Nieder, a neurobiologist at the University of Tubingen in Germany, said that while many laboratories have been investigating this idea intensively, Ben Harvey, a neuroscientist at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, succeeded in convincingly demonstrating a map of numerical quantity in the human brain.

The research also found that just like sensory systems higher cognitive functions might rely on the same organization principles.

The study is published in the journal Science. (ANI)

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